The Overtures Committee convened on Monday morning to take up its business. Ruling Elder Steve Dowling was elected chairman. The committee voted to recommend the following overtures:
Overtures 3, Amend RAO 14-9.h and RAO 15-8.g to Limit General Assembly Debate, in the negative. The vote was 109-20.
Overture 5, Change BCO 8-6 Regarding Chaplain Administration of Sacraments, by returning it to Tidewater Presbytery without prejudice. The vote was 123-7.
Overture 6, Amend BCO 13-6, 21-4.b, and 24-1 To Require Criminal Background Checks of all Minister and Officer Candidates, by referring it back to the presbytery without prejudice. The vote was 102-28.
Overture 15, Amend BCO 53 To Disallow Exhortation, Preaching, or Teaching by Women in Worship, by referring it back to Bryce Avenue Presbyterian Church, White Rock, New Mexico without prejudice. The vote was 85-52.
Overture 26, Amend BCO 7-3 Regarding Titling of Unordained People, in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 91-44.
The amended language is as follows: “Furthermore, unordained people shall not be referred to as, or given the titles of the ordained offices of pastor/ elder or deacon.”
Overture 22, Amend RAO 8-4.h; 17-1; and 19-2 to Specify When Minority Reports Are Permitted, in the negative. The vote was 98-36.
Overture 27, Amend BCO 38-1 re Confessions and Offended Parties, in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 124-1.
The amended language is to add only the following paragraph:
In any instances involving a personal offense (BCO 29-3), the court shall 13 attempt to inform the offended person(s) of that part of the Statement the court 14 deems pertinent to the offense against him or her. The court shall invite the offended 15 person to provide the court comment on the Statement prior to final approval of the 16 Statement by the confessor and the court. The court shall encourage the offended person to enlist the help of an advisor in preparing any such comments.9 17 In all 18 instances, the court shall report the way such offended persons were informed of 19 the parts of the Statement pertinent to them.
Overture 11, Amend BCO 15-4, 45-1, and 45-4 to Allow Objections by GA Commissioners to SJC Decisions, in the negative. The vote was 86-43.
Overture 21, Amend BCO 33-1 and 34-1 Specifying Causes and Processes for Original Jurisdiction Requests, in the negative. The vote was 96-35.
Overture 14, Amend BCO 32-19 Regarding Use of Professional Counsel in Cases of Process, in the negative. The vote was 116-17. An elder declared his intent to file a minority report.
Overture 10, Amend BCO 32-19 to Clarify Use of Professional Counsel in Cases of Process, by reference to its actions on Overture 14. The vote was 116-16.